Benjamin Franklin Benjamin Franklin's Views Franklin's Moderate Viewpoint
Benjamin Franklin believed that it would be best for the colonies to become their own country, but remain a part of the British Empire and allowing British to maintain their higher rule. He thought it best in the Colonies' interests to keep ties with Britain, for economic stability and protection from neighboring empires. His combination of the Tory view of remaining loyal to the crown, and the militant view of separating from England made him a moderate during the 18th century. He knew change was needed to keep any friendly alliance with England, but he also recognized the need for English aid in case of an economic crisis.
In the letter he wrote to Joseph Galloway, Franklin told Galloway a single 'President General' would be easily corrupted especially if chosen by the Crown.He realized if the Crown were to pick the colonial leader it could also lead to England gaining power over the Colonies, thus rendering any form of freedom null. If England was in control of the leaders in the Colonies, which was the case with Thomas Hutchison, there would only be more turmoil and confusion than there was before. Franklin saw it unfair that England could place a man, chosen by the king, in control of the Colonies, without consent from the Colonies. Franklin and many others believed that England should allow the Colonies to choose their own leaders. While Franklin was in Parliament, he saw that it was corrupted and greedy. He then decided that one select group cannot rule a country, but there must be representatives from different parts in order to keep balance. This is when he decided that the Colonies should be united. Franklin soon learned that Royal Governor Hutchison was appointed by Parliament and was being controlled by them to make it appear that he was on the side of independence, but he was only there to quell the Colonial uprisings. This caused Franklin to return home, bringing with him his ideas for united colonies, with at least a partial break from England.
Franklin did his best to combine the best ideas of the loyalty and independence, and had made ultimately good decisions. The Continental Congress used many of these ideas when Franklin and John Adams helped Thomas Jefferson write the first draft of The Declaration of Independence. The Nation was founded by the people and for the people, successfully incorporating Franklin's most basic and his most important concept.
Works Consulted: Gorn, Elliott J., Randy Roberts, and Terry D. Bilhartz. Constructing the American Past: A Source Book of a People’s History Third ed. New York: Addison Wesley Longman, Inc., 1999.
<mrnussbaum.com/benstory.htm>
Ketcham, Ralph. "Benjamin Franklin." The American Revolution Homepage. 1998. <americanrevwar.homestead.com/files/franklin.htm>.
Nash, Gary B., Julie Roy Jeffrey, John R. Howe, Peter J. Frederick, Allen F. Davis, and Allan M. Winkler. The American People: Creating a Nation and a SocietyFifth ed. Addison-Wesley Educational Publishers Inc., 2001.
Benjamin Franklin's Views
Franklin's Moderate Viewpoint
Benjamin Franklin believed that it would be best for the colonies to become their own country, but remain a part of the British Empire and allowing British to maintain their higher rule. He thought it best in the Colonies' interests to keep ties with Britain, for economic stability and protection from neighboring empires. His combination of the Tory view of remaining loyal to the crown, and the militant view of separating from England made him a moderate during the 18th century. He knew change was needed to keep any friendly alliance with England, but he also recognized the need for English aid in case of an economic crisis.
In the letter he wrote to Joseph Galloway, Franklin told Galloway a single 'President General' would be easily corrupted especially if chosen by the Crown.He realized if the Crown were to pick the colonial leader it could also lead to England gaining power over the Colonies, thus rendering any form of freedom null. If England was in control of the leaders in the Colonies, which was the case with Thomas Hutchison, there would only be more turmoil and confusion than there was before. Franklin saw it unfair that England could place a man, chosen by the king, in control of the Colonies, without consent from the Colonies. Franklin and many others believed that England should allow the Colonies to choose their own leaders.
While Franklin was in Parliament, he saw that it was corrupted and greedy. He then decided that one select group cannot rule a country, but there must be representatives from different parts in order to keep balance. This is when he decided that the Colonies should be united. Franklin soon learned that Royal Governor Hutchison was appointed by Parliament and was being controlled by them to make it appear that he was on the side of independence, but he was only there to quell the Colonial uprisings. This caused Franklin to return home, bringing with him his ideas for united colonies, with at least a partial break from England.
Franklin did his best to combine the best ideas of the loyalty and independence, and had made ultimately good decisions. The Continental Congress used many of these ideas when Franklin and John Adams helped Thomas Jefferson write the first draft of The Declaration of Independence. The Nation was founded by the people and for the people, successfully incorporating Franklin's most basic and his most important concept.
On Law, Government, and Community
background from: <ben1776.com/images/Ben_ok2_sharp.jpg>
Works Consulted:
Gorn, Elliott J., Randy Roberts, and Terry D. Bilhartz. Constructing the American Past: A Source Book of a People’s History Third ed. New York: Addison Wesley Longman, Inc., 1999.
<mrnussbaum.com/benstory.htm>
Ketcham, Ralph. "Benjamin Franklin." The American Revolution Homepage. 1998. <americanrevwar.homestead.com/files/franklin.htm>.
Nash, Gary B., Julie Roy Jeffrey, John R. Howe, Peter J. Frederick, Allen F. Davis, and Allan M. Winkler. The American People: Creating a Nation and a Society Fifth ed. Addison-Wesley Educational Publishers Inc., 2001.